Best GPS Golf Watches for 2015

Advancements in technology have helped various sports in a manner of ways, and golf is no exception. The sport has been digitalized, with GPS golf watches now a common sight on courses all around the world. These watches can help your game in a variety of ways and come with all sorts of useful features. In fact, golf watches are so varied nowadays that many golfers struggle to choose between them. That’s why today we’re going to take a look at four of the best golf watches available on the market, comparing their advantages and disadvantages to help you decide which one is right for you.

Bushnell Neo XS

Bushnell is certainly one of the leaders in rangefinder design and their Neo XS is the latest hit in a long line of excellent golf watches. This particular model can boast of various in-built features like an odometer and a database covering tens of thousands of course from countries all around the globe. This device might be the one for you if you like your watches slim and stylish, with the Neo XS easily being one of the slimmest GPS golf watches on the market. It looks good and feels great on the wrist as well, being made of a soft and smooth material that works well for a watch.

One of the standout selling points of the Neo XS is its brilliant battery life. The watch will last you for three solid rounds on a single charge, which is certainly a fine amount when compared to some of its rivals. The device is simple to setup and easy to use, offering a smart user interface that functions exactly how you’d expect. The Neo XS can also boast of having some of the most accurate readings of any golf watch, but buyers should be aware that this particular device isn’t capable of reading a course’s climate or elevation, making the readings it provides somewhat unreliable. Apart from that, there really aren’t any major drawbacks to the Bushnell Neo XS and you can get it for less than $200, making it a great value buy.

SkyCaddie Golf GPS Watch

Up next we have a great device bearing the SkyCaddie brand name. This is a recent addition to the golf watch market and comes with plenty of features designed to boost your game. With exceptionally accurate readings and in-depth mapping of tens of thousands of courses, this SkyCaddie Golf GPS Watch is certainly one to keep an eye on. In terms of appearance, this is one sleek golf watch that fits comfortably and fashionably with typical golf attire. You have the option of various color schemes and the display has to be noted for its use of large fonts, making it easy to read for all sorts of users.

The display does struggle with minor moments of lag from time to time, but this shouldn’t be enough to deter the average golfer from making use of this excellent device. It also comes complete with an in-built pedometer and calorie counter to keep track of your health while out on the green.

Garmin Approach S1

For golfers who are searching for a more simplistic device, the Garmin Approach S1 could be the ideal choice. It offers a sleek design with simplistic features that get the job done. It’s a reliable golf watch that gives you all the vital functions you could ask for, without adding too much flair on top. You won’t be getting too much information about the course on this watch, and it covers fewer courses than its rivals, but the details of thousands of North American courses are included, so you shouldn’t have to worry.

The device is regularly updated for free with additional information and can be found for a pretty low price these days. It doesn’t have an exceptional battery, surviving a couple of rounds at best, but that shouldn’t be a major deterrent to a typical golfer. Put simply, if you’re looking for a purely functional golf watch on a budget, the Garmin Approach S1 will certainly satisfy your requirements.

Garmin Approach S3

From the S1, we move to the more advanced Garmin Approach S3. This device boasts of touchscreen capabilities and an extremely detailed screen, along with plenty of super features that set it apart from its predecessor, the Approach S1. This device has the data of tens of thousands of international courses and requires no setup procedure whatsoever. You can simply take it out of the box and head to the green, which is perfect for golfers who aren’t keen on spending too much time configuring technological items.

The device is able to show great levels of detail about the courses you play, including the layout of the land and the shape of various holes. Such precise readings will certainly prove to be valuable as you play, and the watch can even be used while wearing gloves, which is a nice little bonus. However, some golfers may struggle with the lack of information on certain sections of courses. In addition, unlike other golf watches, you won’t be able to compile your stats online to record your games, which is a bit disappointing. Finally, this watch might be a little bit expensive for some, coming in at around the $250 mark, but it is a great device nonetheless.